Letters to the editor

Make Medicaid losses, community benefits part of hospital charity care

Crain's article focused exclusively on the amount of charity care that non-profit hospitals provide, yet it glossed over the necessary and critical direct benefits that these institutions contribute through participation in the Medicaid program ("State near hospital tax ruling," Crain's, Aug. 8).

More than 54% of Children's Memorial Hospital's inpatient days last year were covered by Medicaid. This is due, in part, to the state's universal health care plan, All Kids. As a result, the number of children eligible for free care significantly decreased, giving us few opportunities to provide charity care.

This past year alone, Children's Memorial provided $100 million in direct community benefits. Significantly, more than $61 million of the $100 million are losses Children's Memorial incurred as a result of Medicaid underfunding and low reimbursement rates. We communicate to all families that charity care is available to them if they qualify for it. In fact, more than 90% of families who requested financial assistance this year qualified for it and received it.

The remaining $40 million in direct community benefits provided by Children's Memorial includes community clinic support, pastoral care, social work services, transplant family housing, and resident and fellow training, among other critical services.

We implore Gov. Pat Quinn, his administration and members of the General Assembly to make Medicaid losses and other direct community benefits part of the equation when determining a hospital's commitment to, and participation in, charity care.

PATRICK M. MAGOON

President, CEO

Children's Memorial Hospital

Chicago

Call it what it is

How curious that the author of the Business of Life story chose to spotlight the culture of death ("Women behind the cause," Aug. 8). Portraying these abortion warriors as defenders of justice is disingenuous at best.

One side has truth; the other, expedience. So, please do us a favor and stop hiding behind euphemisms and worn-out slogans. Planned Parenthood is in the abortion business, a business that profits from terminating life. Is it at all comprehensible that reasonable people choose not to support such a practice with their tax dollars? Defunding Planned Parenthood is a step in the right direction.

CADEY O'LEARY HERSHOFF

Chicago

. . . contradiction

In Crain's article, Helen Zell is quoted as saying, "Government shouldn't be in the bedroom — or in the womb. It's just not relevant." Using her own money to support Planned Parenthood is consistent with her statement. However, Ms. Zell's support for government funding of birth control, sex education and abortion contradicts her statement. How can you keep government out of the bedroom when it is funding all aspects of what occurs in the bedroom?

BILL BECKMAN

Tinley Park

Wise investment

The tollway exists because Illinois (and the federal government, which pays 90% of interstate construction) has never had money to build and operate the Illinois Department of Transportation's network, plus the tollway network. Tolls have filled this void. ("Not much fury over big tollway hike plan — at least so far," Greg Hinz blog, July 29).

The tollway needs to keep up with traffic demand. Its $12-billion investment will generate upward of $40 billion in contractor and employee spending. Western O'Hare access will create thousands of jobs, keeping the airport competitive. An extra Interstate 90 lane will get commuters home sooner every day. And smaller improvements will make the tollway quicker and safer for the motoring public.

All for the cost of a McDonald's Happy Meal (or two) every week. The toll has not changed since the Soviet era. We need to move forward. I'll gladly pay more in tolls to support Move Illinois — to cut my travel time, put my neighbors and their employers to work, put their money back into the economy and to keep the Chicago area (and Illinois) a great place to live.

ELIAS M. GORDAN

Attorney

Tinley Park

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